Abstract：
Intermediate filaments (IFs), being traditionally the least studied component of the cytoskeleton, have begun to receive more attention in recent years. IFs are found in different cell types and are specific to them. Accumulated data have shifted the paradigm about the role of IFs as structures that merely provide mechanical strength to the cell. In addition to this role, IFs have been shown to participate in maintaining cell shape and strengthening cell adhesion. The data have also been obtained that point out to the role of IFs in a number of other biological processes, including organization of microtubules and microfilaments, regulation of nuclear structure and activity, cell cycle control, and regulation of signal transduction pathways. They are also actively involved in the regulation of several aspects of intracellular transport. Among the intermediate filament proteins, vimentin is of particular interest for researchers. Vimentin has been shown to be associated with a range of diseases, including cancer, cataracts, Crohn\'s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and HIV. In this review, we focus almost exclusively on vimentin and the currently known functions of vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs). This is due to the structural features of vimentin, biological functions of its domains, and its involvement in the regulation of a wide range of basic cellular functions, and its role in the development of human diseases. Particular attention in the review will be paid to comparing the role of VIFs with the role of intermediate filaments consisting of other proteins in cell physiology.
摘要：
中间长丝(IF),是传统上研究最少的细胞骨架成分，近年来开始受到更多的关注。IFs存在于不同的细胞类型中并且对它们是特异性的。累积的数据已经改变了IFs作为仅向细胞提供机械强度的结构的作用的范式。除了这个角色,已显示IFs参与维持细胞形状和增强细胞粘附。还获得的数据指出了IFs在许多其他生物过程中的作用，包括微管和微丝的组织，核结构和活性的调节，细胞周期控制，和信号转导途径的调节。它们还积极参与细胞内运输的几个方面的调节。在中间丝蛋白中，波形蛋白是研究人员特别感兴趣的。波形蛋白已被证明与一系列疾病有关，包括癌症,白内障,克罗恩病,类风湿性关节炎,和艾滋病毒。在这次审查中,我们几乎只关注波形蛋白和目前已知的波形蛋白中间丝（VIF）的功能。这是由于波形蛋白的结构特征，其结构域的生物学功能，以及它参与调节广泛的基本细胞功能，以及它在人类疾病发展中的作用。审查中将特别注意将VIF的作用与由其他蛋白质组成的中间丝在细胞生理学中的作用进行比较。
